Sealing devices between fixed parts of metal constructions such as walls, screen-walls, curtain-walls, and suchlike



April 28, 1964 c SOMVILLE 3,130,977

SEALING DEVICES BETWEEN FIXED PARTS OF METAL CONSTRUCTIONS SUCH AS WALLS, SCREEN-WALLS, CURTAIN-WALLS, AND SUCHLIKE Filed Oct. 5, 1960 7 IMtWIOI? CHARLES Somvh-uz B) ArroRNav s United States Patent ()ffice 3,130,977 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 SEALHNQ DEVICES BETWEEN FIXED PARTS OF WETAL CONSTRUCTIGNS SUCH AS WALLS, SCREEN-WALLS, CURTAIN-WALLS, AND SUCH- LIKE Charles Somville, Burcht, Belgium, assignor to A.V.R., Achat, Veutes, Representations, Societe Anouyme, Brussels, Belgium Filed Oct. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 59,955 Claims priority, application Belgium Dec. 10, 1959 1 Claim. (Cl. 277-207) This invention refers essentially to the problem of sealing between all separate adjacent parts of metal constructions and more especially of that kind of construction called screen-wall-s, curtain-walls, etc.

Such walls may comprise, in a practically infinite number of various combinations, dormant parts and opening parts.

The main problem which has to be faced in this kind of metal constructions, is that of making them practically impervious to water, to air and to dust while using shaped sections which can be easily manufactured, simple and efficient means of fastening them to their subjacent supports, and means which make it possible to combine them in a practically infinite number of ways. A further condition to be fulfilled is that this tightness to air, water and dust must not only be a temporary feature of the iinished building, but must be absolutely permanent despite the relative displacements to which adjacent elements are subjected in the course of time.

Nowadays, the problem of permanent tightness in such metal constructions and more especially in aluminium Walls, screen-walls, curtain-walls, etc., has not found a satisfactory solution, as it is a well known fact to all conversant with the art, that the labour and maintenance costs required for successfully combating the penetration of rainwater, of wind and of dust, are enormous.

It is an equally well known fact that, despite these considerable efforts and costs, the results which have been obtained are still far from satisfactory.

These difiiculties are due to the fact that it has generally been wrongly admitted that it was sufficient to insert be tween adjacent metal surfaces a layer or strip of some elastic or plastic material for making the joints perfectly tight whilst compensating the relative movements between adjacent metal parts. This easygoing solution has mainly been resorted to in order to simplify the shapes of the sections and the constructional means for assembling aforesaid adjacent metal parts.

Experience has proved however that, despite any precautions which may be nsed for applying this sealing layer or strip, it is practically impossible to maintain it in its original condition. Not only does it occur that, when applied, the seal does not remain quite integral, especially when the elements to be assembled have a considerable height or length, but it also happens that after some time, due to the unavoidable relative displacements between adjacent metal elements, aforesaid seal becomes disjointed or damaged in some way or other and that an attempt must be made to repair the damage by local refills of the seals which have thus been destroyed.

It follows therefrom that, even if the material of which the seal is made is of the very best quality, the whole construction suffers from this lack of tightness. It is known however that joints between dormant and opening parts are currently made by means of an elastic strip which is held in a recess from which it projects so as to be compressed and distorted by the opening part each time when the latter is brought into the closed position. This means is essentially based on the advantages resulting from the repeated elastic deformations of the joint.

The present invention has for object to improve such metal constructions, and these improvements make it possible to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacksby extremely simple means which ensure between adjacent metal parts a tightness which is not only perfect when the construction has just been erected, but which permanently remains so for an unlimited time thereafter.

These means substantially consist in providing, at the junctions which have to be made tight, recesses in which the actual sea-ling material is totally enclosed and sup ported on all sides and over its whole length when the parts are being assembled, so that aforesaid seal is definitely isolated under a permanent elastic stress which ke ps it into constant contact with all inner faces of the recess. The result thereof is that the material of which the actual seal is made is permanently and totally enclosed, without any possibility of leakage or damage, a primary condition for its total preservation.

Another characteristic of the present invention is to be found in the fact that this total enclosure of the seals results trom the cc-operation of a recess which runs along the whole length of the joint, recess which is open only on one side, with the corresponding part of the adjacent metal element which latter closes this open part, thus providing the complete enclosure of the seal, which is a characteristic feature of the present invention.

In most cases, the continuous enclosure into which the sealing material will be introduced, will be U-shaped and be provided with special ribs integral with standardized metal sections.

One of the consequences of the present invention consists in manufacturing such metal sections which can be mutually combined and assembled in any required combination while being provided, in all parts where needed, with one or several continuous recesses open on only one side through which the seal is introduced, and capable of cooperating with an adjacent element in order to closein altogether aforesaid seal.

In order to give a still clearer explanation of the fundamental features of the improvements according to the present invention, an embodiment is described below, merely by way of example and without implying any lirnitations, with reference to the appended drawings of which:

FIGURE '1 is a front View showing a sealing device conforming to the present invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are cross-sections along lines II- II and III--IH of FIGURE 1, respectively.

In accordance with the present invention a sealing device is provided at the junction between sections mounted end-on in order to reach heights or lengths which are greater than the unit length of a standard element. It substantially consists of a mass 7 of elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber; the cross-section of the body 8 of this mass is shaped in accordance with the corresponding part of the metal sections which are to be connected end-on by means of an absolutely tight seal; aforesaid body 8 extends on either side into narrower parts 9-10, ribs 1112 being provided at the junction between aforesaid body 8 and aforesaid terminal parts 9-10. An external peripheral rib 13 is also provided halfway up aforesaid elastic element 7. As represented in the drawings, such elastic element 7 is applied to the junction of two identical metal sections 1415 mounted in such way that one constitutes an extension of the other. This sealing element 7 fits in those parts of aforesaid sections which lie on the outside of the construction. In this way, this junction is made perfectly tight, the seal being itself posi- .tively supported by the adjacent edges of aforesaid sections 14!15.

Aforesaid improvements, which are the object of the present invention, can be applied to any section and in all cases where it is needed to protect any parts of a metal 3 construction against the penetration of .water, of air or of dust.

This invention extends not only to all the applications, but also .to all and sundry metal sections comprising at least one continuous recess intended for contributing to the complete enclosure of a seal at the junction of two fixed elements of a metal construction.

What I claim is:

A sealer piece for sealing the joint between adjacent hollow profiles comprising an elongated resilient body having a central portion ;of uniform thickness and substantially parallel marginal surfaces, end portions integral with said central portion, said end portions having an end of the same thickness as the central portion and tapering uniformly with diminishing thickness; in a direction away from said central portion and having convergent marginal surfaces, and a rib integral with said central portion and extending outwardly thereof in equispaced relation from said end portions, the end portion and part of the central portion of said resilient body on one side of said rib being adapted to fit into a marginal opening in a hollow profile, the end portion and part of the central portion of said resilient body on the other side of said rib being adapted to tit into a marginal opening in a hollow profile next adja cent to the first-mentioned hollow profile, said resilient body having a plurality of concave-shaped grooves and convex-shaped ribs at each of the junction points of said central portion and said end portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,306 Sipe Aug. 6, 1929 1,907,091 Pettit May 2, 1933 2,424,547 iBehin July 29, 1947 2,722,043 Nenzell Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 178,144 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1935 187,043 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1937 200,950 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1939 

